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Lamborghini reveals Veneno Roadster

18 October, 2013 |
by Vijay Pattni

It’s called the Veneno Roadster, and it encapsulates the brand most succinctly.

As with the coupe – revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year- it’s based on the Lamborghini Aventador, swathed in the same carbon fibre plague doctor outfit as before, though here there’s no roof. Literally, no roof – it’s a permanent roadster, that Lamborghini tells us “guarantees an intense driving experience.” All you get is a rollover bar and a pat on the back.

All the better then, to listen to that 552kW, 6.5-litre V12 engine nestled right behind the driver and passenger, hooked up to an automatic gearbox and permanent all-wheel-drive. There’s the Aventador’s pushrod suspension and horizontal spring/damper units, which all add up to a 0-100kph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 354kph. Whichever way you look at it, that’s fruity.

And you will look at it, because it’s mad. ‘Veneno’ was the name of a famous bull (of course it is) that gorged a matador to death back in 1914, and this roadster is probably as good a homage to that as you’ll find. That whopping front end, the huge side air intakes, the wide track, the sheer pointiness of the thing and that adjustable racing prototype wing – it’s like a Lamborghini Le Mans prototype that’s scoffed one too many disco biscuits.

Sure, it’s all there for functional aero, and the CFRP monocoque and body parts are cutting edge, here helping to keep the weight down to just 1,490kg (that’s dry, without any fluids or humans on board). In fact, carbon fibre adorns the interior too.

It is, however, a little less exclusive than the coupe Veneno (they made three of them). Lamborghini tells us nine are being planned, and while this ‘Rosso Veneno’ colour is unique for the roadster, you can spec any one you want. Each one will cost around *R52m…

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